Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

On Sunday, I couldn't fall asleep. I was too nervous; my stomach was churning, my head wouldn't turn off. I lay in bed thinking, "Why am I not sleeping? Why am I not sleeping..." I had forgotten how scary the first day of school can be.

Bleary-eyed and feeling a bit like I was in a costume, I went to my first class, Introduction to Pantry, in my full cooking regalia. We then spent three hours getting to know each other and Chef. Students must call all of our cooking instructors chef. No last name necessary.

There are close to 50 people entering the program this year, the largest class the department has ever had. I heard about 5 times yesterday that not all of us are going to finish, which is understandable, not everyone is going to like it, people have other events going on in their lives, etc. Still it was a bit disconcerting to be told by almost everyone that I met that a good 3/4s of us aren't going to make it. Right now, my goal is to make it. In two years, I am going to have my certificates. I am going to be a cook. I am going to do what I've wanted to do since I was twelve. It is going to happen. This is one of the most nerve-wracking, brave, exciting thing that I've ever done. And I'm going to do it.